Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 3 April 2021

ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2021 39 C (0 or 150ppm). Faecal matter was col- lected on days 10, 11 and 12 and ileal digesta was gathered on days 13 and 14. Researchers found that including cop- per reduced the concentration of faecal microbial protein in the large intestine, indicating that high copper can reduce the total microbial population. However, this effect was less in the diets containing high levels of DDG. In summary, add- ing 150ppm copper lowered the concen- tration of microbial protein in the large intestine and improved the apparent ileal digestibility and apparent total tract di- gestibility of acid hydrolyzed ether extract. The study built off of the understand- ing that piglet performance and wellbe- ing were improved when high levels of Copper were added to diets. It sought to expand the understanding of Copper’s mode of action and the role it could play in limit- ing gram positive and negative bacteria by reducing their draw on essential nutrients. Another trial looked at the potential for supplementing 150ppm hydroxy copper to alter growth performance. The trial exam- ined if the trace minerals could influence gene expres- sion related to lipid metabolism for pigs eating a corn, soybean meal and distillers dried grain (DDGS) diet. Pigs received a diet with either nutritional levels of hydroxy Copper or 150ppm Copper. Samples were collected from swine liver, skeletal muscle and sub- cutaneous adipose tissue – to analyze relative mRNA levels of genes related to lipid metabolism. Pigs receiving 150ppm copper saw overall im- provement in average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio. Swine on the high-Copper diet displayed an upregulated number of genes used in the post-ab- sorptive metabolism of lipids. COPPER IN GROW-FINISH PIG DIETS A trial at Kansas State University, tracked 1,143 swine for 111 days. Diets included a negative con- trol and experimental diets comprised of the nega- tive control feed with 75 or 150ppm copper from a Copper sulphate or hydroxy Copper source. When 75ppm Copper was added to swine diets, pigs receiving the hydroxy Copper gained more weight than those on the Copper sulphate diet. The difference seemed to peak when pigs reached about 90 kg. Pigs seemed to stop gaining at that point re- gardless of the type of Copper used in the diet. When 150ppm Copper was added to diets, pigs on the hydroxy Copper supplement continued to gain weight for longer (to around 110kg) through the production cycle than those fed sulphate trace min- erals. This suggests that extra benefits for growth can be seen if high levels of Copper are fed from a hydroxy source compared to sulphate through the entire grow-finish period. Comparing pigs receiving diets with 150ppm from hydroxy copper and those on a Copper sulphate diet, there was a 2.1kg improvement seen in hydroxy-sup- plemented pigs. Figure 4 – Results from high copper inclusion during grow-finish period.